Downing Street

Wednesday September 7, 2022

September 7, 2022

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Wednesday September 7, 2022

Why Some People Think Theresa May’s Easy Question For Liz Truss Was Not A Win After All

January 18, 2019

Theresa May riled up the Tory benches during PMQs when she asked Liz Truss why all female prime ministers have come from the Conservative Party.

It was Truss’ first PMQs as the prime minister, but May – who was prime minister herself between 2016 and 2019 – already seems to have taken to Truss more than she ever took to Boris Johnson.

Speaking on Wednesday, May said: “May I congratulate my right-honourable friend and may I congratulate her in her position as the third female prime minister of the United Kingdom.

“Can I ask my right honourable friend, why does she think it is that all three female prime ministers have been Conservative?”

April 9, 2013

A wave of jeering then broke out from the Tory benches, while the camera flashed to May sitting back down, looking particularly pleased with herself.

It’s worth noting that when May confirming she would be stepping down in 2019, she closed her speech by pointing out that she was “the second female prime minister – but certainly not the last”.

Back in PMQs, Truss smiled, and replied: “I thank my right honourable friend for her fantastic question, and I look forward to calling on her advice from her time in office as I start my work as prime minister.

“It is quite extraordinary isn’t it, that there doesn’t seem to be the ability in the Labour Party to find a female leader, or indeed a leader who doesn’t come from north London.

“I don’t know what it is, I don’t know what the issue is!”

The issue has been a sore spot for Labour for several years, particularly after several women stood for the leadership role back in 2020, and none of them were elected.

July 13, 2022

Truss has also appointed the most diverse cabinet in history, with not a single white man occupying any of the three great offices of state of home secretary, foreign secretary or chancellor of the Exchequer.

These roles have gone to Suella Braverman, James Cleverly, and Kwasi Kwarteng, who all cracked up at May’s observation about Labour’s leadership.

But, the easy question – which took aim at the Labour Party who were still leading in the polls in August – dodges the actual crises facing the UK right now.

Truss’ in-tray is most likely overflowing, due to the energy crisis, the climbing cost of living, inflation, the war in Ukraine and the collapsing NHS.

Critics of the Conservatives were also quick to point out that it was, of course, easier for the Tories to appoint a female leader, as they have had four since 2016.

July 24, 2019

Still, May’s soft approach shows already that she shares more cordial relations with Truss compared to Johnson, even though she was often dubbed Johnson’s continuity candidate in the Tory leadership race.

May and Johnson clashed repeatedly throughout both of their premierships, particularly over Brexit and partygate.

In January, May hit out at the then-prime minister for breaching Covid rules, telling the Commons: “Nobody is above the law.

“This is important for ensuring the necessary degree of trust between the public and Government.

“Like so many, I was angry to hear stories of those in Number 10, who are responsible for setting the coronavirus rules, not properly following the rules.” (Huffington Post) 

From sketch to finish, see the current way Graeme completes an editorial cartoon using an iPencil, the Procreate app, and a couple of cheats on an iPad Pro …

Wednesday July 13, 2022

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Wednesday July 13, 2022

Ousted Conservative leadership candidate Patrick Brown undecided about second Brampton mayoral run

Patrick Brown Cartoons

A spokesman for Patrick Brown says the disqualified Conservative leadership candidate won’t make any decisions about running for re-election as mayor of Brampton, Ontario until he has time to talk to family and friends.

Brown entered the race to become the next leader of the Conservative Party of Canada without resigning his job as Brampton’s mayor.

He previously said he would consider running again in October’s municipal election if he thought he couldn’t win the federal race, and he has until August 19th to register as a mayoral candidate.

Brown’s position in the federal race changed last week when the party’s leadership election organizing committee voted to boot him from the contest over an allegation that he breached federal financing laws. (CP24) 

Boris Johnson cartoons

Meanwhile, Eight candidates have made it through to the first stage of the Tory leadership contest – actually getting onto the ballot.

Rishi Sunak and Liz Truss have already attracted some big name support, while another big name, former health secretary Sajid Javid, is no longer in the running.

The first hustings are being held in parliament Tuesday night, with candidates given 12 minutes each to put their case, before MPs take part in the first round of voting Wednesday afternoon. (Channel 4 News) 

 

Tuesday July 13, 2016

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay - Tuesday July 13, 2016 Theresa MayÕs first job? Tackling the damning legacy of David Cameron The unexpectedly fast selection of Home Secretary Theresa May as the incoming new British prime minister means that she will now move into Downing Street on Wednesday, with David Cameron formally resigning to the Queen earlier that same day. The speedier-than-anticipated transition gives very little time for her to prepare for a massive agenda which, first and foremost, comprises tackling the damning legacy of Mr. Cameron Ð not just the British exit from the European Union, but also the United Kingdom itself unravelling. This is a huge political task for Ms. May and the tragedy is that this troubled political inheritance was by no means inevitable, and stems in large part from Mr. CameronÕs own unwise decisions in office. The EU referendum Mr. Cameron called was one of personal choice, not necessity, and reflected in large part his concerns in 2014 Ð before the last British general election Ð that the U.K. Independence Party posed a significant electoral threat to the ruling Conservatives. Calling a referendum in these circumstances has proven to be a reckless gamble that has destroyed his premiership. Ms. May must now pick up the pieces and try to negotiate a Brexit on the best possible terms with Brussels and the other 27 member states in very difficult circumstances. The referendum vote will have potentially massive implications for the longer-term future not just of the EU, but also the U.K. On the latter front, for instance, the U.K.Õs current constitutional settlement has now become further destabilized with a significantly increased likelihood of a second Scottish independence referendum vote, and also the possibility of greater political uncertainty in Northern Ireland. Unlike England and Wales, both Scotland and Northern Ireland voted to remain in the EU last month. This is a point that has already been strongly emphasized b

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay – Tuesday July 13, 2016

Theresa May’s first job? Tackling the damning legacy of David Cameron

The unexpectedly fast selection of Home Secretary Theresa May as the incoming new British prime minister means that she will now move into Downing Street on Wednesday, with David Cameron formally resigning to the Queen earlier that same day. The speedier-than-anticipated transition gives very little time for her to prepare for a massive agenda which, first and foremost, comprises tackling the damning legacy of Mr. Cameron – not just the British exit from the European Union, but also the United Kingdom itself unravelling.

This is a huge political task for Ms. May and the tragedy is that this troubled political inheritance was by no means inevitable, and stems in large part from Mr. Cameron’s own unwise decisions in office.

The EU referendum Mr. Cameron called was one of personal choice, not necessity, and reflected in large part his concerns in 2014 – before the last British general election – that the U.K. Independence Party posed a significant electoral threat to the ruling Conservatives.

Calling a referendum in these circumstances has proven to be a reckless gamble that has destroyed his premiership. Ms. May must now pick up the pieces and try to negotiate a Brexit on the best possible terms with Brussels and the other 27 member states in very difficult circumstances.

The referendum vote will have potentially massive implications for the longer-term future not just of the EU, but also the U.K. On the latter front, for instance, the U.K.’s current constitutional settlement has now become further destabilized with a significantly increased likelihood of a second Scottish independence referendum vote, and also the possibility of greater political uncertainty in Northern Ireland.

Unlike England and Wales, both Scotland and Northern Ireland voted to remain in the EU last month. This is a point that has already been strongly emphasized by parties such as Sinn Fein and the Scottish Nationalist Party which favour the further fragmentation of the United Kingdom. (Continued: Globe & Mail)

2016-07-12tearsheet